Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-11-29
MISCELLANEOUS.
Is Farming Really Doomed9

1lOSe OF us VINO llSIeneu 10 w IN.
Wilson on Tuesday in the Court
room, were pleased with his we'll pre-
sented. argument, intended mainly
for farmers but what touches farm
evs we all feel. Mr.. Wilson gave a
very thorough historic account of the
causes to which he attributes the de-
probation of agriculture in this coun-
try, and especially in the eastern
States, viz: the competition of the
world by reason of the public facil-
titles in treights now upon the land and
on the sea.
And home markets are effected by
over production occasioned by labor
excluding machinery. Aud Mr. Viii
son sees now no reason for a change
in future. Well, it may be so with
wnest, and yet there might be that
which would give farmers better
prices. and especially in the Atlantic
sea-ward States, and perhaps from
the Mississippi Valley.
Mr.. Wilson did not allude to The
ratification of the Central American
Reciprocal Treaties which were con-
cluded by Mr.. Arthur's administra-
ton, and suspended over to Mr..
Cleveland's administration. The rat
i1cation was recommended by both
administrations and still hangs in the
u. S. Senate. Why does it not be-
come sanctioned by our millionaire
Senate? Let us see If there are any
economic or prudential reasons for
efusing to ratify the treaties. The
governments with whom the treaties
were made are all agreed and anxious
to have them go into effect. | wish
their provisions were published; the
farmers ought to know the terms of
the provisions which would open
markets for their wheat, corn, rye,
oats and Irish potatoes, which are
now practically. closed. 1t is true.
the other grain producing nations
could go there with their grain. but
the reciprocity essouitl 5eegsssssses.:sl
thai, under the treaties, is. everything.
It is neighboring with the family
which neighbors with you. A. and
B. may live equally near to c.; the
families of B: and C. may neighbor
with each other, while A. rarely, If
ever, has any dealings with either F;
the reason is due TO the want of a re-
ciprocity of Intercourse. Just so
with nations. Now for the reason
One word might solve it, and that
word is tariff.
If the Wholesale corruption which
was engendered during the late war
in the States had not fostered wealth.
getting by dishonest means. The high
tariff employed as means, the recip-
rocal treaties would have been ratified
on their presentation in the Senate.
Why, it NAV be asked, should the
war policy of the government bekept
up for twenty-five years after the war
is over, with n treasury filed with
millions of he'people's money which
the government has no use for, hut
which the people Mt large are suffer-
ing for the want of having? The an
swer is evident. The government tax
is collected by authority of Congress,
enacted and continued in force du-
ring the war, and slightly increased
under the pretcnse OF modification
since the close of the war. This law
called tariff makes every storekeeper
a government tax-collector, for the
purpose of legally robbing tue con-
sumer-who is in one hundred cases
out of one hundred and ten poor peo-
ple-to make great profits for the mo-
nopoiizing manufacturer, who is aided
by the tariff in great profits on his
manufactured commodities by keep
ing off competition.
The reciprocal treaties would pro-
vide not only market for our sur
plus cereals, but it would enable for
eign products to come to our CON
sumers free from fictional. value, but
at such exchange rates as would, for
instance, give sugar three cents per
pound less than we now have to pay
for it. Let any family figure on this
article, which is of universal neces-
sity, and he will get his eyes open to
the extent at which he is taxed to
create and support a free government
aristocracy. How much sugar do you
use year, ,Mr. Farmer? Answer
about 1854 lbs, at 8 cts, S29. ;
after ratification of reciprocal treaties
at 5 cts. which is $780, saving
of Sl0.92 on one article of domestic
consumption. Now, go through the
list, and you have saved several hun
dred dollars a year which is now ex-
tracted yearly from your unremuD-
erative products. to support an official
set of teaches who prey on your in
dustry. And yet. we are surprised
that anarchy is increasing in this
country, reprehensibie as it is. 1t is
the growth of that policy which was
born to the same parents which begot
the high tariff monster.
V. NJ. FrRoR.